FTA Oversight Procedures - Federal Transit Administration - U.S. ...

5.0 PROJECT SPONSOR SUBMITTALS
• Obtain from the Project Sponsor the answers to the questions in Appendix A, FTA Request
for Information. With these answers, DOT (Office of the Secretary of Transportation [OST],
FTA and FRA) and the PMOC can gain a full understanding of the project conditions and can
better assist the Project Sponsor in achieving compliance with the level boarding
requirements of the ADA.
• Obtain the Project Sponsor’s level boarding package. The Project Sponsor’s level boarding
proposal should be provided to the PMOC at the earliest point possible in the project’s
development. It is optimal to review the Project Sponsor’s level boarding package with the
request for entry to preliminary engineering. The level boarding package contains supporting
information to justify the proposed method of achieving level boarding. Forward copies of
this package to DOT’s Level Boarding Team. The Project Sponsor’s package should include
the following information as a minimum:
o Cover letter
o Proposed right-of-way width at each station;
o Horizontal gap between platform and vehicle at each station;
o Vertical gap between platform and vehicle at each station;
o ADA level boarding compliance options at each station (i.e., potential for a bridge plate
or other device to span horizontal and/or vertical gap to meet ADA level boarding
requirements, potential for gauntlet track or bypass track, etc.) and reasoning why the
various compliance options are feasible or infeasible.
6.0 SCOPE OF WORK
6.1 Prior to approval to Enter Preliminary Engineering
It is essential and expected that level boarding be reflected in the site plans and station plans and
sections developed during Alternatives Analysis and Conceptual Engineering phase. In addition, the
review of the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) prior to entering PE requires that level boarding be
reflected in the project documents provided for review.
6.2 During Preliminary Engineering
A level boarding solution must be submitted to and accepted by FTA prior to FTA’s approval of the
project into Final Design.
Request and review the information from the Project Sponsor listed in Section 5.0 above in order to
determine if the project meets the DOT’s ADA level boarding guidance, or if there are perceived
impediments to compliance.
Upon receiving and reviewing documents provided by the Project Sponsor, a workshop should be
conducted with the Project Sponsor to inform and educate, as well as provide technical guidance on
viable level boarding solutions and possible options to meet the level boarding requirements. Technical
guidance could include assisting the Project Sponsor to ensure that they locate the correct vehicle and
OP 41 ADA Review – Level Boarding for Commuter Rail
Revision 0, June 2008
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